Hi I want to take my husband to Yosemite for a day hike.
I am too scared to do Half Dome so what is the next best option.
Thanks
Kiwianna

Are you saying you will not be staying in Yosemite--just going for a day? That narrows your choices down considerably.

BTW, Half Dome isn't a day hike for most people anyway, it would be a long long day.

When? Time of year makes a huge difference.

Oh - if this is for between Thanksgiving and early Dec from your other thread, you may be limited to the Valley/Valley floor.

Hi Thanks for your responses.
We are hiking Yosemite this August and will be driving up there from Merced only 1 hour away.So I was hoping we could get a reasonable hike in if we left early in the morning and it doesn't matter what time we get back as long as we are done with hike by late afternoon.
We are quite fit as we hike a lot here in NZ.

Merced is more than an hour away from the Valley on a good day. Try to get lodging in El Portal if you can't get any in the Valley.
Here is a list of the day hikes. https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/valleyhikes.htm
If you don't want to drive your rental car into the Yosemite Valley, you can ride the YARTS bus into and out of the Valley.
There are free Park Service buses to get around inside the park.

>>will be driving up there from Merced only 1 hour awaytwo full hours from Merced. And you don't necessarily want to be driving back that road after dark.

You are staying w/ friends/family in Merced - right?

Ok Thanks for your help I see we need to allow much longer to go there and back. We are staying with family/friends in Merced if we had more time I would love to stay closer. Thanks for the list of day hikes.

My favorite day hike is to start in the valley, hike up 4 mi trail to glacier point then down the panorama trail.

That link doesn't include Glacier Point hikes.

My favorite is Sentinel Dome
https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/glacierhikes.htm

In the Valley my favorite is Vernal Fall
https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvis...evadatrail.htm

These require at least a moderate degree of fitness and being comfortable with uneven and steep terrain.

Hi Everyone,

Thanks so much for your ideas. I think we will do the 4 mile trail glacier and panorama trail it sounds fabulous. We are fairly fit as we tramp (hike) a lot in New Zealand.

Thanks again K

I would suggest the Panorama Trail and back down the Mist Trail. This would require a shuttle one way.